f0(f subzero)

[Kamal]

In the medical device industry there is a process called F0 ( F subzero)in relation to sterilization.What is that process?

[Harvey Johnson]

Hmmm...
Freeze those cooties to death, that's a new one for me.
I tried to google f sub zero, no info, only a sterilization reference book available on amazon.com which according to the one review submitted only gives a passing reference to the process.
I would also like to hear more if anyone is familiar with this process?

[gphillips]

I have only seen Fo cycles on lab sterilizers used for sterilizing liquids.
Traditionally, it is accepted that microorganisms are killed at a certain temperature. The exposure time is set to provide overkill.

Studies have shown that the actual kill rate occurs at a lower temp than is normally set up on sterilizers.

Fo is just a fancy equation that accounts for 'equivalent kill effect' during heat up, resulting in a reduced total cycle time.

Again, as far as I know, the calculation is based on 121 C cycles for liquid loads.